The results of the siege of Fallujah

I agree with you, McGentrix.

Iraqis help coalition in battle for Fallujah

April 14, 2004

A disparate group of Iraqi soldiers are helping the US fight insurgents in Fallujah. Tony Perry reports.

As would-be peacemakers tried to avert a military showdown between US marines and insurgents cornered in Fallujah, one group of soldiers left no doubt that they were prepared for a fight.

"Fallujah, Fallujah, right now," chanted members of a battalion in the new Iraqi army.

The Iraqi troops, US marines and US Army Special Forces advisers live in a tumbledown house not far from where four Americans were killed and their bodies mutilated late last month. That event triggered the US offensive going on in Fallujah, which has a population of 300,000.

The performance of the Iraqi security forces during the offensive, for the most part, has been dismal. Some Iraqi army units deserted, police officers in Fallujah fled in their squad cars and the Iraqi Civil Defence Corps forces were largely a no-show.

But the performance by scores of soldiers from the Iraqi army's 36th Battalion has been a bright spot, suggesting to the Americans that, with time, training and better weaponry, Iraq's forces could help combat the insurgency.

Although many of its activities are considered classified, the battalion - the label is a bit overblown given that the 36th has only a few hundred soldiers - has been involved in gathering intelligence, apprehending suspected terrorists, setting up ambushes and helping US forces tighten the cordon around Fallujah to keep insurgents from escaping or gaining reinforcements.

"These guys are hard-core," said marine Lance Corporal Rob Noceda, 19, of Chicago.

The unit is made up of a cross-section of ethnic and religious groups, including both Shiite and Sunni Muslims. Some served in the Iraqi army under Saddam Hussein. Others were involved with dissident groups during his regime, including one soldier who was tortured and had part of an ear cut off.

Some are Kurds with a surpassing hatred of Saddam and anyone with his former ruling Baath Party.

Captain Saad Amar Auobai, a charismatic Iraqi officer, said his men would "fight those who would hurt our people. We want to capture them, not kill them; we are not killers."

Ahmad Temeny was a school principal before joining the new army as a sergeant. "We are fighting for Iraq," he said.

But the soldiers want Americans to be clear on one point: they expect the US Government to follow through on its commitment to return control of Iraq to its people in less than three months.

"If it does not happen by June 30, everyone will quit," Hussain Ali said. "We fight for Iraq, not the US."

- Los Angeles Times

f2 network

Which is exactly what he will do: 'pretend otehrwise.'

The most important paragraph in that story,a dn the one that validates what Scoates, Blatham, LW, Nimh, and the rest of us have been saying.

Those are our children out there in that Godforsaken desert, trying to build schools and provide water to people in the middle of Hell.

They don't deserve to be murdered for it.

Some people here have family there.

No one who has died in ths conflict deserved to die. Ask the war-lovers why this was neccesary. They will likely tell you "its a war, people die."
Let me ad that a certain person on this board who has family there, was told by another poster that the family member was a coward who should kill himself.

I didn't think things like that happened here.

I have friends there, which is WHY I'm angry about it. Troops should not be there, they don't deserve to be there where the Iraqis have every right to be angry with them. When I say they deserve to be fired upon, I am attacking the decision for them to be there, not the troops themselves who have no say in the matter.

They would be considered treasonous if they exibited common sense. They are doing more harm than good.

here it is

Newbie.

He has 300-odd posts. You also might want to read this thread:Draft

There are many who would disagree with your second sentence.

I know, and I try to respect their opinion. Although I find it very difficult to agree.

Uday and Qusay Hussein jump to mind...